Nigeria: N44m Hospital Bill - Group Demands Evidence Linking Funds to Sema Boss

The Taraba Integrity Network (TIN) has called on SaharaReporters to provide proof linking a reported N44 million hospital payment to alleged misappropriation of relief materials from Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA). The group stated that the financial transactions mentioned in a recent SaharaReporters report alone are not enough to prove that public funds were misused or that TSEMA's executive secretary, Dr Echuseh Audu, personally benefited.

TIN questioned the basis for connecting the three N44 million payments to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja with the alleged TSEMA relief material diversion. They also disputed the claim that the deceased person treated at the hospital was Audu's daughter, urging SaharaReporters to publish evidence supporting the supposed relationship.

Furthermore, TIN pointed out a N12.19 million transaction from the Taraba L-PRES Draw Down Account to Katuka's Kitchen, which was later returned to the LPRES account. They argued that this transaction could not be considered unlawful without further evidence, emphasizing the need to examine the purpose, authorization, and reason behind the transfer.

TIN rejected the idea of aggregating multiple transactions into a reported N49.44 million figure as evidence of a single financial scheme, highlighting that the transactions involved different accounts and cannot automatically be deemed government funds. They also questioned the association of Dr Audu's Bank Verification Number (BVN) with the Katuka's Kitchen account, stating that merely having the BVN is not sufficient to prove ongoing control or operation of the account.

TIN urged SaharaReporters to provide the necessary bank mandate, signatory records, and transaction authorizations to substantiate the claim that Audu continued to control the account after leaving the agency. They also noted that the earlier allegation of TSEMA relief material diversion remained unconfirmed, cautioning against using an unproven allegation to interpret separate financial transactions.

The group urged the public to demand accountability from public officials, while also ensuring accurate and responsible reporting, insisting that allegations should only be considered true when supported by credible evidence.